Markers Of Tone Research Articles

Western diet consumption impairs memory function via dysregulated hippocampus acetylcholine signaling

Western diet (WD) consumption during early life developmental periods is associated with impaired memory function, particularly for hippocampus (HPC)-dependent processes. We developed an early life WD rodent model associated with long-lasting HPC dysfunction to investigate the neurobiological mechanisms mediating these effects. Rats received either a cafeteria-style WD (ad libitum access to various high-fat/high-sugar foods; CAF) or standard healthy chow (CTL) during the juvenile and adolescent stages (postnatal days 26–56). Behavioral and metabolic assessments were performed both before and after a healthy diet intervention period beginning at early adulthood. Results revealed HPC-dependent contextual episodic memory impairments in CAF rats that persisted despite the healthy diet intervention. Given that dysregulated HPC acetylcholine (ACh) signaling is associated with memory impairments in humans and animal models, we examined protein markers of ACh tone in the dorsal HPC (HPCd) in CAF and CTL rats. Results revealed significantly lower protein levels of vesicular ACh transporter in the HPCd of CAF vs. CTL rats, indicating chronically reduced ACh tone. Using intensity-based ACh sensing fluorescent reporter (iAChSnFr) in vivo fiber photometry targeting the HPCd, we next revealed that ACh release during object-contextual novelty recognition was highly predictive of memory performance and was disrupted in CAF vs. CTL rats. Neuropharmacological results showed that alpha 7 nicotinic ACh receptor agonist infusion in the HPCd during training rescued memory deficits in CAF rats. Overall, these findings reveal a functional connection linking early life WD intake with long-lasting dysregulation of HPC ACh signaling, thereby identifying an underlying mechanism for WD-associated memory impairments.

The language contact phenomenon in Thailand: English borrowing, comprehension, and public attitudes

As the English lexicon has become more frequently borrowed and used in Thai mass media and social media, Thais are quickly adapting to such foreignness and are open to language contact-induced change. The current study explores the extent of the public’s familiarity with borrowed words in contemporary Thai public media and attitudes toward language borrowing. The study participants comprised 120 Thais who voluntarily completed a questionnaire. They were from different age groups and were relatively highly educated. The instrument for the data collection was an online three-part questionnaire probing demographic information, an individual’s comprehension of the borrowed lexicon as tested via 15 questions of lexical borrowing in context, and personal views probed in the questionnaire questions about English lexical borrowing. Follow-up interviews with six selected respondents according to age groups verified and elicited attitudes toward lexical borrowing. The findings revealed that high exposure to English resulted in a high level of comprehension, especially when words were transcribed in the Thai script with tone markers. If the borrowing was in Romanized script, it was less likely to be understood. The majority of the respondents recognized the need for English language borrowing in Thai communication, especially for terminology. They also expressed positive views toward the adoption of the practice. English was perceived as necessary for effective Thai communication, particularly among acquaintances and professionals. The ubiquity of English in Thai society today has led to general adaptability and acceptance of borrowing as part of language evolution; such practices are no longer a sign of prestige. The study suggests that language classrooms should consider using borrowed English lexicons to assist Thai EFL learners in developing English proficiency.

Heart rate variability in patients presenting with anginal symptoms in absence of cardiac and other diseases

Objectives: Angina is a symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD). Modulation of cardiac autonomic tone as assessed by heart rate (HR) variability (HRV) is found reduced in patients with CAD; myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction and some other cardiovascular diseases. Reduced HRV has been found associated with sudden cardiac death in these CAD patients. Several patients present with anginal symptoms clinically in absence of CAD or other diseases. The status of HRV is not much clear in these patients. Thus, we aimed to assess HRV in patients with angina with and without myocardial ischemia and compare it with HRV of healthy subjects of similar age groups and follow-up patients for 1 year for cardiac/health events. Materials and Methods: The study included 61 consecutive male patients clinically presenting with angina and 30 healthy subjects. Based on Thallium-201 myocardial perfusion Single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) imaging, patients were divided into two groups; patients with myocardial perfusion defects (MPD), (n = 33, age 54.91 ± 7.43 years) and patients with no MPD (NMPD), NMPD (n = 28, age 53.04 ± 8.50 years). Short-term HRV was assessed in all patients and subjects in resting supine position following standard protocol. All MPD and 25 NMPD patients could be followed up for 1 year for cardiac/health events. Results: Surprisingly, the NMPD patients showed significantly reduced HRV, Standard deviation of the N-N intervals, The square root of the mean squared differences of successive N-N intervals, Percentage of the number of interval differences of successive N-N intervals greater than >50 ms divided by total number of R-R intervals, low frequency (LF) power, High Frequency (HF) power and total power as compared to both MPD patients and healthy subjects. (Total power [NMPD vs. MPD]: 610.1 [379.9–1072.8] vs. 1508.0 [748.4–2339.4] millisecond squares (ms2), P = 0.001), healthy subjects (Total power: 1414.6 [1104.6-2141.5] ms2, P = 0.001). The markers of sympathetic tone; LF (normalised unit) and LF/HF ratio were higher in NMPD patients as compared to MPD patients resulting in an altered sympathovagal balance. During a 1-year follow-up, sudden death was seen in one MPD patient (3.1%) and two NMPD patients (8%). Conclusion: The NMPD patients showed significantly reduced HRV as compared to both MPD patients and Healthy subjects with an altered sympathovagal balance. Sudden death was also seen in NMPD patients as MPD patients.

The effects of alphabetic literacy, linguistic-processing demand and tone type on the dichotic listening of lexical tones.

Brain lateralization of lexical tone processing remains a matter of debate. In this study we used a dichotic listening paradigm to examine the influences of the knowledge of Jyutping (a romanization writing system which provides explicit Cantonese tone markers), linguistic-processing demand and tone type on the ear preference pattern of native tone processing in Hong Kong Cantonese speakers. While participants with little knowledge of Jyutping showed a previously reported left-ear advantage (LEA), those with a good level of Jyutping expertise exhibited either a right-ear advantage or bilateral processing during lexical tone identification and contour tone discrimination, respectively. As for the effect of linguistic-processing demand, while an LEA was found in acoustic/phonetic perception situations, this advantage disappeared and was replaced by a bilateral pattern in conditions that involved a greater extent of linguistic processing, suggesting an increased involvement of the left hemisphere. Regarding the effect of tone type, both groups showed an LEA in level tone discrimination, but only the Jyutping group demonstrated a bilateral pattern in contour tone discrimination. Overall, knowledge of written codes of tones, greater degree of linguistic processing and contour tone processing seem to influence the brain lateralization of lexical tone processing in native listeners of Cantonese by increasing the recruitment of the left-hemisphere language network.

Long-Term Effects of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation on Systemic Inflammation in Sickle Cell Disease Patients.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is the only currently available curative treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD). However, the effects of HSCT on SCD pathophysiology are poorly elucidated. Here, we assessed red blood cell (RBC) adhesiveness, intensity of hemolysis, vascular tone markers and systemic inflammation, in SCD patients treated with allogeneic HSCT. Thirty-two SCD patients were evaluated before and on long-term follow-up after HSCT. Overall survival was 94% with no severe (grade III-IV) graft-vs-host disease and a 22% rejection rate (graft failure). Hematological parameters, reticulocyte counts, and levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), endothelin-1 and VCAM-1 normalized in SCD patients post-HSCT. Expression of adhesion molecules on reticulocytes and RBC was lower in patients with sustained engraftment. Levels of IL-18, IL-15 and LDH were higher in patients that developed graft failure. Increased levels of plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines, mainly TNF-α, were found in SCD patients long-term after transplantation. SCD patients with sustained engraftment after allo-HSCT showed decreased reticulocyte counts and adhesiveness, diminished hemolysis, and lower levels of vascular tonus markers. Nevertheless, systemic inflammation persists for at least five years after transplantation, indicating that allo-HSCT does not equally affect all aspects of SCD pathophysiology.

345 Blood pressure and autonomic function in essential hypertension: comparative evaluation of 24-hour heart rate variability and blood pressure

Abstract Aims Arterial hypertension (AHT) represents the leading cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and premature death worldwide. Essential AHT accounts for 95% of all cases of hypertension; although the aetiology of essential AHT is still largely unknown, a pivotal role of autonomic nervous system has been proposed and demonstrated. Both excessive sympathetic tone and vagal withdrawal, that define autonomic dysfunction, has been associated with essential AHT. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between blood pressure and autonomic function in essential hypertension; this was done comparing 24 h heart rate variability and 24 h blood pressure data, simultaneously collected, in a population of essential AHT subjects. Methods A prospective registry of 179 consecutive not selected essential AHT patients were considered in the present study. All patients underwent cardiac evaluation at the Primary and Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention Unit of the Don Gnocchi Foundation of Parma. All subjects underwent 24 h ECG monitoring, and 24 h Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring, during the same day. Twenty-four hours Heart Rate variability analysis included: Time-domain, frequency-domain and non-linear domain. Results Mean age was 60 0a11.7 years, male gender was prevalent (68.4%). Among the population 26 (14.7%) subjects had diabetes; the prevalence of family history of CVD was 61.7% and 66.5% had dyslipidaemia; body mass index mean values were 27.6 7.4.3. In the whole population, the prevalence of uncontrolled AHT was 80.5%, divided into: 53.1% systo-diastolic, 17.9% isolated systolic, and 9.5% isolated diastolic. The prevalence of untreated AHT (recent diagnosis) was 40.2%, while treated AHT was 59.8% and only 19.6% had controlled blood pressure values (AHT at target). 12.3% of patients were treated with Beta Blockers. A significant correlations between diastolic blood pressure (DBP) values (24 h and day-time), LF/HF ratio (24 h) (r = 0.200; P = 007) and DFA alfa1 (24 h) (r = 0.325; P = 0.000), two know markers of sympathetic tone, were found. A higher sympathetic tone, expressed as high LF/HF, was found in isolated diastolic AHT compared to other types of AHT and the lowest sympathetic tone was found in isolated systolic AHT. Considering non-linear (complexity) analysis, DFA alfa1 (24 h) showed a significant correlation with DBP values that remained independent even after multiple adjustment for BMI, age, gender and Beta Blockers (β = 0.218; P = 0.011). Moreover, the lack of DBP control was associated with high sympathetic tone (LF/HF 3.8 112.3 vs 5.5 .33.3; P < 0.0001). On the other hand, no significant correlations between all DBP data and vagal markers, such as SDNN index, RMSSD and HF, were found. Again, no significant correlations between 24 h, daytime, night-time SBP and time or frequency HRV data as well as with non-linear (complexity) analysis were found. Finally, considering ‘autonomic dipping’, expressed as changes in HRV data between day and night, a strong inverse correlation between vagal markers and Heart Rate Dipping (r = −0.297; P < 0.0001) was found; correlation that remain independent even adjusted for age, gender, BMI, and BB. On the other hand, no association between blood pressure dipping and autonomic dipping was found. Conclusion Diastolic blood pressure and uncontrolled diastolic AHT, rather than systolic AHT, are associated with a hyper-sympathetic tone rather than with blunted vagal tone. The lack of heart rate dipping during night-time in AHT is associated with blunted vagal activation rather than a persistent night-time hyper-adrenergic tone.

Cortical processing of speaker politeness: Tracking the dynamic effects of voice tone and politeness markers

ABSTRACT Information in the tone of voice alters social impressions and underlying brain activity as listeners evaluate the interpersonal relevance of utterances. Here, we presented requests that expressed politeness distinctions through the voice (polite/rude) and explicit linguistic markers (half of the requests began with Please). Thirty participants performed a social perception task (rating friendliness) while their electroencephalogram was recorded. Behaviorally, vocal politeness strategies had a much stronger influence on the perceived friendliness than the linguistic marker. Event-related potentials revealed rapid effects of (im)polite voices on cortical activity prior to ~300 ms; P200 amplitudes increased for polite versus rude voices, suggesting that the speaker’s polite stance was registered as more salient in our task. At later stages, politeness distinctions encoded by the speaker’s voice and their use of Please interacted, modulating activity in the N400 (300–500 ms) and late positivity (600–800 ms) time windows. Patterns of results suggest that initial attention deployment to politeness cues is rapidly influenced by the motivational significance of a speaker’s voice. At later stages, processes for integrating vocal and lexical information resulted in increased cognitive effort to reevaluate utterances with ambiguous/contradictory cues. The potential influence of social anxiety on the P200 effect is also discussed.

Cardiac autonomic and blood pressure responses to an acute session of battling ropes exercise

BackgroundBattling rope (BTR) exercise has become incredibly popular among not only fitness enthusiasts and athletes but in the general exercising population. Despite its popularity, research regarding the acute cardiovascular responses to BTR exercise is limited. This investigation evaluated the effects of acute BTR exercise on heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure (BP) responses in young men with elevated BP. Materials and methodsEleven young men with elevated BP completed either a BTR or a non-exercise control trial in randomized order. The BTR trial consisted of 10 rounds of BTR exercise. Each round included 30 s of exercise followed by 30 s of rest. HRV and BP were evaluated at baseline and 3, 10, and 30 min following each trial. ResultsThere were significant elevations (p ˂0.01) in heart rate, markers of sympathetic activity (nLF), and sympathovagal balance (LnLF/LnHF, nLF/nHF) for 30 min following the BTR trial, whereas no changes from baseline were detected after control. Additionally, there were significant reductions (p ˂0.01) in markers of vagal tone (RMSSD, LnHF and nHF) and LnLF (both sympathetic and vagal modulations) for 30 min; as well as (p ˂0.01) systolic BP and diastolic BP at 10 and 30 min after the BTR, but not the control trial. ConclusionCurrent findings revealed that BTR exercise elevates sympathovagal balance for 30 min post-intervention, which is concurrent with an impressive hypotensive effect. Further investigations are warranted to assess the potential clinical application of BTR exercise not only in cohorts needing BP control but also in populations with limited locomotion that might benefit from post-exercise hypotension.

Perspectives on the use of electrostimulation with the device “VEB”® in the management of disorders related to COVID-19

Background. One of the symptoms of COVID-19 is the so-called "cytokine storm". Its pathogenesis is that the initial release by lymphocytes and macrophages of proinflammatory cytokines in the classical immune response to SARS-CoV-2 is significantly enhanced and maintained due to excessive adrenergic stimulation of the immune cells. The proinflammatory adrenergic mechanism of the "cytokine storm" can be offset by the activation of the anti-inflammatory cholinergic mechanism by non-invasive stimulation of the vagus nerve. In 2015, a generator for electrotherapy and stimulation oh human nerve centers was created, called “VEB-1”®. Preliminary observation of volunteers revealed a modulating effect of a four-day course of electrical stimulation on the parameters of electroencephalogram, metabolism, as well as gas-discharge visualization (GDV). We hypothesized that changes in EEG parameters may be accompanied by a vagotonic shift of the sympatho-vagus balance, favorable for calming the “cytokine storm”. The main purpose of this study was to find out. In addition, concomitant changes in EEG, immunity, GDV, etc. due to the use of the devices "VEB-1"® and recently designed "VEB-2" had to be detected. Material and research methods. The object of observation were 18 volunteers: 11 women 33-62 y and 7 men 29-62 y (Mean±SD: 51±12 y) without clinical diagnose but with dysfunction of neuro-endocrine-immune complex and metabolism. In the morning registered HRV (“CardioLab+HRV”, “KhAI-Medica”, Kharkiv, UA), EEG (“NeuroCom Standard”, “KhAI-Medica”, Kharkiv, UA), kirlianogram by the method of GDV (“GDV Chamber”, “Biotechprogress”, SPb, RF), electroconductivity of skin in three pairs of points of acupuncture (“Medissa”), electrokinetic index of buccal epithelium ("Biotest", Kharkiv State University), as well as some parameters of immunity and metabolism. After the initial testing, an electrical stimulation session was performed with a “VEB-1”® or a “VEB-2” devices. The next morning after completing the four-day course, retesting was performed. Results. The effects of electrical stimulation can be divided into the following networks. Regarding EEG, this is a leveling of right-hand lateralization and normalizing decrease in the increased of the amplitude of the θ-rhythm and its spectral power density (SPD) at the loci F3, F7, F8, T3, T4, T6, P3, O1 and O2; further increase of SPD of δ-rhythm in loci F3, F4, T6, P3 and O1 as well as further decrease of SPD F4-α; reversion of the increased level of entropy in loci Fp1, F4, C3 and P3 to the lowered level. Regarding HRV, it is a vagotonic shift of sympatho-vagus balance due to a decrease in elevated levels of sympathetic tone markers and an increase in decreased levels of vagus tone markers, but without normalization. Neurotropic effects are accompanied by favorable changes in a number of immune parameters and a tendency to decrease the level of C-Reactive Protein. Regarding GDV, it is almost complete normalization of the initially increased GDI Area in the frontal projection and third Chakra Energy; normalizing decrease in the initially increased Energy of second and seventh Chakras; normalizing right-hand shift of more or less pronounced left-sided Asymmetry of first and third Chakra. These effects should be clearly interpreted as physiologically beneficial. The effects on these parameters are almost equally pronounced in people of both sexes when using both devices. Conclusion. Vagotonic and immunotropic effects of our device give us a reason to offer it for further research on the leveling of “cytokine storm” in patients with COVID-19.

Autonomic and endocrine accompaniments of quantitative-qualitative blood pressure clusters in patients of Truskavets’ spa

Background. Earlier we showed that profile patients of Truskavets’ spa are characterized by a wide range of blood pressure (BP) - from low norm to arterial hypertension III that correspond to the hemodynamics parameters. The purpose of this study is to clarify the autonomic and endocrine accompaniments of quantitative-qualitative BP clusters in the same contingent. Materials and methods. Under an observations were 44 patients with chronic pyelonephritis and cholecystitis in the phase of remission. Testing was performed twice - on admission and after 7-10 days of standard balneotherapy. The main object of the study was BP (tonometer “Omron M4-I”, Netherlands). The parameters of HRV ("CardioLab+HRV", Ukraine), plasma levels of Cortisol, Aldosterone, Testosterone, Triiodothyronine and Calcitonin (ELISA) as well as Ca-P marker of parathyroid hormone were determined. Results. In order to identify among the registered parameters, those for which the BP clusters differ from each other, a discriminant analysis was performed. The program forward stepwise included in the discriminant model 29 parameters. The most informative among them are HRV-markers of sympathetic tone and sympathetic-vagal balance as well as testosterone and cortisol, whose levels are maximal in patients with hypertension II, while minimal in patients with low norm BP, on the one hand, and markers of vagal tone and Kerdoe vegetative index, the levels of which are polar, on the other hand. The accuracy of patient classification is 98,9%. Conclusion. Autonomic and endocrine accompaniments of quantitative-qualitative blood pressure clusters corresponding to the existing ideas about the regulation of blood pressure.

Entropy in Heart Rate Dynamics Reflects How HRV-Biofeedback Training Improves Neurovisceral Complexity during Stress-Cognition Interactions.

Despite considerable appeal, the growing appreciation of biosignals complexity reflects that system complexity needs additional support. A dynamically coordinated network of neurovisceral integration has been described that links prefrontal-subcortical inhibitory circuits to vagally-mediated heart rate variability. Chronic stress is known to alter network interactions by impairing amygdala functional connectivity. HRV-biofeedback training can counteract stress defects. We hypothesized the great value of an entropy-based approach of beat-to-beat biosignals to illustrate how HRVB training restores neurovisceral complexity, which should be reflected in signal complexity. In thirteen moderately-stressed participants, we obtained vagal tone markers and psychological indexes (state anxiety, cognitive workload, and Perceived Stress Scale) before and after five-weeks of daily HRVB training, at rest and during stressful cognitive tasking. Refined Composite Multiscale Entropy (RCMSE) was computed over short time scales as a marker of signal complexity. Heightened vagal tone at rest and during stressful tasking illustrates training benefits in the brain-to-heart circuitry. The entropy index reached the highest significance levels in both variance and ROC curves analyses. Restored vagal activity at rest correlated with gain in entropy. We conclude that HRVB training is efficient in restoring healthy neurovisceral complexity and stress defense, which is reflected in HRV signal complexity. The very mechanisms that are involved in system complexity remain to be elucidated, despite abundant literature existing on the role played by amygdala in brain interconnections.

Isarn Dharma Word Segmentation Using a Statistical Approach with Named Entity Recognition

In this study, we developed an Isarn Dharma word segmentation system. We mainly focused on solving the word ambiguity and unknown word problems in unsegmented Isarn Dharma text. Ambiguous Isarn Dharma words occur frequently in word construction due to the writing style without tone markers. Thus, words can be interpreted as having different tones and meanings in the same writing text. To overcome these problems, we developed an Isarn Dharma character cluster–(IDCC) based statistical model and affixation and integrated it with the named entity recognition method (IDCC-C-based statistical model and affixation with named entity recognition (NER)). This method integrates the IDCC-based and character-based statistical models to distinguish the word boundaries. The IDCC-based statistical model utilizes the IDCC feature to disambiguate any ambiguous words. The unknown words are handled using the character-based statistical model, based on the character features. In addition, linguistic knowledge is employed to detect the boundaries of a new word based on the construction morphology and NER. In evaluations, we compared the proposed method with various word segmentation methods. The experimental results showed that the proposed method performed slightly better than the other methods when the corpus size increased. Using the test set, the proposed method obtained the best F-measure of 92.19, an F-measure that was better than the IDCC longest matching grouping at 2.85.

The Sinitic Languages: A Contribution to Sinological Linguistics by Mieczysław Jerzy Künstler

Reviewed by: The Sinitic Languages: A Contribution to Sinological Linguistics by Mieczysław Jerzy Künstler Stephen Matthews (bio) The Sinitic Languages: A Contribution to Sinological Linguistics. By Mieczysław Jerzy Künstler. Translated by Mieczysław Jerzy Künstler and Alfred Franciszek Majewicz. Abingdon and New York: Routledge (Collectanea Serica, New Series 1), 2019. The title of this book already signals its perspective: a linguist looking at 'Chinese' from outside China, and from Europe in particular, perceives not a language but a family of languages, comparable in their diversity to the Romanic or Germanic language families (see Chappell 2016 for recent work from this perspective). Indeed, in a new twist on an old comparison, the author asserts that 'Pekinese and Cantonese are more distant than Icelandic and Southern German' (p. 40). Having published the original book in Polish in 2000, the author was working on a revised English version at the time of his death in 2007. Künstler's text breaks off at the end of chapter 8, at which point Alfred Majewicz takes over the translation, without attempting the updating that Künstler was pursuing in his English version. The book is based on lectures given at University of Warsaw by Künstler, who is described as a passionate lecturer as well as a 'severe and demanding professor' (p. xiii). Both the passion and the severity come across in the book, which presents a relentless critique of Chinese linguistics, especially as practised in China. Linguists are taken to task for numerous errors of method and argumentation. In reconstructing proto-Sino-Tibetan, for example, numerals are commonly [End Page 294] used as evidence when they are more likely to be early borrowings than true cognates (p. 63). The alternative approach presented here begins with a shock announcement: no characters are to be used! The reasoning is that 'The links between language and writing are often overestimated' (p. 11), 'Chinese writing was never a good tool to note the language' (p. 40) and 'the Chinese cannot liberate themselves from looking at the language through Chinese characters' (p. 82). These arguments overlap with the hanzi filter as proposed by Wang (1996)—the effect whereby those aspects of Chinese which are not represented in characters tend to become invisible or distorted. Given this policy, even the book's intensive discussions of Archaic and Ancient Chinese present examples in modern pinyin readings (and without tone markers). The editor has relented to the extent of providing characters in an index. Yet the exclusion of characters becomes absurd at times, such as when the editor notes that the Cantonese mathai 'water chestnut' is written with two characters meaning 'horse hoof', which remain unprinted due to the ban (p. 207). The author begins with a discussion of typological, genetic and areal affinities. Having adopted the deconstruction of Sino-Tibetan (ST) by Benedict (1972), he proceeds to split Sinitic from Tibeto-Burman (TB). The relationships between Sinitic and neighbouring families, including TB, are thus seen as areal and typological rather than genetic. The author often delves into the areal links between Tai languages and Sinitic, but the Mongolian and Manchurian languages 'lie outside of our scope of interest' (apparently on typological grounds: p. 13). Consequently, he does not consider the Altaicization hypothesis of Hashimoto (1976), whereas Hashimoto's hypothesis of a Miao-Yao substrate in Min is discussed (p. 216). Indeed, Künstler shows a particular interest in the southern minorities and their impact on southern varieties. The Cantonese term mathai 马蹄'water chestnut', for example, is analysed as containing the Tai prefix ma- 'fruit' (p. 31), while the interpretation of 马 蹄 as 'horse hoof' is treated as a folk etymology (p. 236). Tai-Kadai languages are rather misleadingly referred to as Thai in the book; similarly, yuè 越 is rendered 'Vietnamese' when the text makes better sense when understood as referring to the languages of the băi yuè 百越 peoples of south China (p. 216). [End Page 295] The organization of the book follows the history of Chinese from the oldest texts to the 20th Century, before returning to the theme of diversity within the Sinitic family. This section begins with a chapter surveying dialect groups, entitled...

Spelling Errors in Thai Made by Chinese Students Learning Thai as a Foreign Language

When learning a foreign language, it is important to learn how to spell accurately as it is crucial for communication. To spell Thai language accurately is challenging for both native and foreign learners of Thai. However, studies that address spelling errors made by foreign learners of Thai are rare. The purpose of this paper is to analyze patterns and causes behind spelling errors made by Chinese students learning Thai as a foreign language. Data was taken from thirty Chinese students who took part in a Thai language composition writing and dictation task. The results suggest that the main spelling problem for Chinese students is spelling Thai vowels (37.5%), followed by initial consonants (20.7%), final consonants (20.4%), unpronounced letters (18.0%), tone markers (2.2%), and others (1.2%). In terms of underlying causes of spelling errors, irregularities in Thai language and interference from Chinese phonology are the two main causes for their spelling errors. Moreover, carelessness, differences between the Chinese and Thai writing systems, and influence from Thai native speakers also account for some of the spelling errors produced among the Chinese students.

Маркеры сосудистого тонуса в крови высококвалифицированных лыжников-гонщиков Республики Коми в течение годового тренировочного цикла

Маркеры сосудистого тонуса в крови высококвалифицированных лыжников-гонщиков Республики Коми в течение годового тренировочного цикла

Studies in Pyu Phonology, ii: Rhymes

The extinct Pyu language was spoken during the first millennium CE and the early centuries of the second millennium CE in what is now Upper Burma. Pyu appears to be Sino-Tibetan on the basis of its basic vocabulary. It survives in inscriptions in an Indic script. This study reconstructs Pyu rhymes on the basis of spellings in those inscriptions and concludes that Pyu was an atonal language with 7 vowels and 18 final consonants. Some previous scholars have interpreted the subscript dots of the Pyu script as tone markers, but this study argues that they indicate fricative initials.

PO-189 Cardiac autonomic recovery from an acute bout of cardio pulmonary exercise test

Objective Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive clinical indicator of cardiovascular health, to date there has been little agreement on what HRV recovery following exercise. The present study aimed to evaluate the acute effects of cardio pulmonary exercise test (CPET) on cardiac autonomic activity in adolescent individuals.
 Methods Fifty-two healthy participants (Male=26, age: 20.31±1.49 years, height: 176±5.67 cm, body mass: 69.08±10.27 kg. Female=26, age: 20.62±0.98 years, height: 162.46±5.39 cm, body mass: 53.42±7.31 kg) underwent CEPT measurements of HRmax and VO2peak. Tests were performed on the Master Screen CPX model according to the Bruce protocol (JAEGER, Germany). Predicted peak heart rate was calculated as 220-age. HRV measurements were collected using the SphygmoCor device (AtCor Medical, Australia) at baseline, 5, 30 and 60 min after the CPET. Differences between groups were assessed using an independent t-test. The HRV variables were analyzed using a 2-factor [sex (male, female); time (Baseline, Post-5min, Post-30min, Post-60min)] repeated-measures ANOVA.
 Results There were significant differences in VO2peak (51.09±4.41 vs. 37.59±3.62 ml min-1 kg-1) (P<0.05), RPE (ratings of perceived exertion)、RER (respiratory exchange ratio) were similar between groups (P>0.05). There were significant increases (P<0.01) in heart rate, markers of sympathetic activity (nLF) and sympathovagal balance (nLF/nHF) for 60 min after the CEPT trial, there were also significant decreases (P<0.01) in markers of vagal tone (RMMSD, nHF) for 60 min. There were no significant interactions between groups from rest to recovery from maximal exercise for any HRV variables. The overall change in ln LF/HF was of greater proportion in male participants(P<0.05) within 5 min.
 Conclusions Our findings indicate that the change of autonomic recovery was difference between male and female within 5 min, and it takes longer than 60 min to recover following an acute bout of CPET trial.

Cardiac Autonomic and Blood Pressure Responses to an Acute Foam Rolling Session.

Lastova, K, Nordvall, M, Walters-Edwards, M, Allnutt, A, and Wong, A. Cardiac autonomic and blood pressure responses to an acute foam rolling session. J Strength Cond Res 32(10): 2825-2830, 2018-Foam rolling (FR) is a self-myofascial release method that has become extremely popular among athletes and fitness enthusiasts for its ability to improve flexibility and range of motion and alleviate delayed-onset muscle soreness. However, the cardiac autonomic modulation and blood pressure (BP) responses induced by an acute FR session are currently unknown. This study evaluated the effects of an acute session of FR exercise on heart rate variability (HRV) and BP responses in healthy individuals. Fifteen (M = 8, F = 7) healthy subjects completed either an FR or nonexercise control trial in randomized order. Heart rate variability and BP measurements were collected at baseline, 10, and 30 minutes after each trial. There were significant increases (p < 0.01) in markers of vagal tone (normalized high frequency) for 30 minutes after the FR trial, whereas no changes from baseline were observed after control. There were also significant decreases (p < 0.05) in markers of sympathetic activity (normalized low frequency), sympathovagal balance (ratio of normalized low frequency to normalized high frequency), systolic BP, and diastolic BP at 10 and 30 minutes after the trial KB trial, whereas no changes from baseline were observed after the control trial. Our findings indicate that FR decreases sympathovagal balance for 30 minutes postintervention, which is concurrent with an important hypotensive effect. Further research is warranted to evaluate the potential cardiovascular protective effects of FR in diverse populations.

Cardiac Autonomic and Blood Pressure Responses to an Acute Bout of Kettlebell Exercise.

Wong, A, Nordvall, M, Walters-Edwards, M, Lastova, K, Francavillo, G, Tripken, J, Summerfield, L, and Sanchez-Gonzalez, M. Cardiac autonomic and blood pressure responses to an acute bout of kettlebell exercise. J Strength Cond Res 35(2S): S173-S179, 2021-Kettlebell (KB) training has become an extremely popular exercise program for improving both muscle strength and aerobic fitness. However, the cardiac autonomic modulation and blood pressure (BP) responses induced by an acute KB exercise session are currently unknown. Understanding the impact of this exercise modality on the postexercise autonomic modulation and BP would facilitate appropriate exercise prescription in susceptible populations. This study evaluated the effects of an acute session of KB exercise on heart rate variability and BP responses in healthy individuals. Seventeen (male = 10 and female = 7) healthy subjects completed either a KB or nonexercise control trial in randomized order. Heart rate variability and BP measurements were collected at baseline, 3, 10, and 30 minutes after each trial. There were significant increases (p < 0.01) in heart rate, markers of sympathetic activity (nLF), and sympathovagal balance (nLF/nHF) for 30 minutes after the KB trial, whereas no changes from baseline were observed after the control trial. There were also significant decreases (p < 0.01) in markers of vagal tone (RMMSD and nHF) for 30 minutes as well as (p < 0.01) systolic BP and diastolic BP at 10 and 30 minutes after the KB trial, whereas no changes from baseline were observed after the control trial. Our findings indicate that KB exercise increases sympathovagal balance for 30 minutes postintervention, which is concurrent with an important hypotensive effect. Further research is warranted to evaluate the potential clinical application of KB training in populations that might benefit from postexercise hypotension, such as hypertensives.

Cardiovascular findings in ponies with equine metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether hypertension, high sympathetic tone, resting and exercising arrhythmias, and echocardiographic changes consistent with hypertensive cardiomyopathy were associated with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) in ponies. DESIGN Prospective case-control study. ANIMALS 19 privately owned ponies with a diagnosis of EMS (history of laminitis, body condition score ≥ 7/9, cresty neck score ≥ 3/5, and abnormal oral sugar test result; cases) and 20 healthy control ponies. PROCEDURES Heart rate (HR), noninvasively measured arterial blood pressure (BP), markers of autonomic tone (splenic volume and HR variability), 24-hour and exercising ECGs, and echocardiograms were compared between cases and controls. RESULTS Compared with controls, cases had a higher mean ± SD HR (44.5 ± 7.5 beats/min vs 38.6 ± 6.8 beats/min) and median mean left ventricular wall thickness (2.0 cm vs 1.8 cm). No differences were identified between groups in BP, splenic volume, HR variability, and number of premature complexes in ECGs. Mean wall thickness was correlated with BP (r = 0.54), high-frequency power (r = -0.71), and ratio of low-to high-frequency power (ϕ = 0.66). Relative wall thickness was correlated with serum insulin concentration (r = 0.71). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Ponies with EMS had myocardial hypertrophy that was correlated with insulin response to an oral sugar test, sympathetic and parasympathetic tone, and BP. The heterogeneity and limited sample size of this preliminary study should be considered when drawing conclusions. Cardiovascular changes associated with this syndrome deserve further attention.